Filling system



E. W. BLEAM FILLING SYSTEM June L 19376 Original Filed May 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 634 M A TTORNEY June 1, 1937.

E. W. BLEAM FILLING SYSTEM Original Filed May 3, 1934 Fig. 2..

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A T form/5y June 1, 1937. E. w. BLEAM I 2,082,567

FILLING SYSTEM Original Filed May 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q Q I Fig. .5.

INVENTOR,

By m

A TTORNEY June 1, E w BLEAM FILLING SYSTEM Original Filed May 3, 1934 6 Sheeis-Sheet 4 JP 5 H! H 9 Q 623 I gfNl ENTOR I] BY A TTORNEY E. W. BLEAM FILLING SYSTEM June 1, 1937.

Original Filed May 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 2 6M4,

A TTORNEY June 1, E. w BLEAM FILLING SYSTEM Original Filed May 3, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 2 WM A TTORNEY Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED SFTATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING SYSTEM Original application 723,687. Divided and 1935, Serial No. 15,750

18 Claims.

My invention relates to systems for filling containers, cartons or packages comprising weighing and filling machines operated in timed relation to each other.

In accordance with my invention, empty containers delivered adjacent to a plurality of filling machines are fed, in groups of one or more, alternately or in sequence to filling machines which are controlled to operate in sequence or alternately; more specifically, when a group of empty containers on a conveyor reaches a predetermined position, there is initiated operation of mechanism which effects transfer to one of the filling machines and operation of another filling machine to fill a container previously delivered thereto.

My invention also resides in the features of combination, construction, and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

This application is a division from my application Serial No. 723,687, filed May 3, 1934.

For an understanding of my invention and for illustration of a preferred form thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. i is a perspective view oi the weighing and filling machine as viewed from the front;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View, on enlarged scale, of parts appearing in Fig. 1 and with part or the framework broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on enlarged scale, with the cover plate removed, to show operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View, with parts broken 5 away, of the upper portion of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the system shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a system uti lizing several units such as shown in 1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the motor M is secured to the base i or" the machine between the side frames 2 and 3 and continuously drives the shaft 4 through suitable means, as belt 5. The driving clutch member 6, loose on 45 shaft 6c, is driven from shaft t through the train of mechanism including gears l, 8, Fig. 2, gear 9 mounted on the same shaft it! as gear 8, Fig. 3, gear ii which is secured to shaft l2, sprocket l3 on shaft it, chain it, and sprocket l5 rotatable with the driving clutch member 6.

The pawl or driving clutch member 16, mounted upon bracket I! which is secured to shaft 6a, is normally held out of engagement with the driving clutch.- member 6 by the latch I8 pivotally mounted on the side frame 2 and adapted May 3, 1934, Serial No.

this application April 11,

to be released by the pedal I! to which it is connected by the link 20.

When the pedal is is momentarily depressed by the operator of the machine, the pawl It will lock the shaft 6a to the driving clutch member for one revolution, the latch l8 at the end of the revolution reengaging the pawl and opening the clutch.

As appears in Fig. 3, which discloses parts visible when the cover 2! for the recessed side frame 2 is removed, to the one-turn shaft 6a is secured a cam 22, rotatable in clockwise direction as viewed in this figure, and having the position shown when the shaft 6a is at rest. When the machine is tripped and shaft 6a begins to rotate the cam 22 engages the roller 23 secured to the link member 24 to lift it to the position shown in Fig. 3, to rock the lever arm 25 secured to one end of a shaiit 26 passing through the side frame 2, and to whose other end is secured the lever 21 which is connected by link 28, Fig. 2, to the beihcrani'; lever 29 secured to the upper extension of the side frame.

A universal joint 3% between the other arm of the bell-crank lever and the lever ti secured to the upper end of a. shaft 32 effects clockwise rotation oi the shaft, as viewed in this figure, to remove the plate obstructing how of material from nose it or spout 355 at the bottom oi? hopper St. The srinporting arms for pistes and Si are adiustably secured to shaft 322.

As time so moved out of flow-obstructing position, the piste 3? at the end of arm it} also secured to shaft strings into the slot 8d of to seg; to the material sochinnla-ted above plate irons the remainder shove plate its thus described, the swingingcut or plate and ti swingiin of plate reflects dimming of ieternnned mass of materiel the container.

Prefer-shit" and as more clearly appears in Fig. 4, the M is provided with an opening I substantioily smaller in area than the area of the spout to allow restricted show oi, material from the hopper, so that the weight of material delivered to the container is can be accurately controlled.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the cam 22 of the one-turn st ait, in lifting the bar 26, rocks the lever 4i pivoted. thereto to throw in the friction clutch 42 to effect driving of the shaft '43 from shaft 4. More specifically, the gear 44 at the end of shaft 4, Fig. 3, drives the gear 45 connected to the driving clutch member 46. The

52A which operating collar 41 for the clutch'is provided with a groove which receives projections of the pivoted yoke member 48 between which and the end of lever 4| is a resilient link system comprising the rod 49 pivoted to the end of the yoke arm 48 and extending through an opening in the bracket 50 pivoted to arm 4!. The spring 5| is compressed when arm 4| is rocked, thereby cushioning the transmission of the clutch-closing force.

The clutch 42 is locked in running position by the spring-pressed pawl 52 pivoted on arm 4| and hooking over the abutment 52A, secured to shaft 53 to which is also secured the member 54 normallyv restrained from movement by the solenoid operated latch 55.

The movement of lever 4| to the aforesaid latched position also effects movement of contact member 58 into engagement with the stationary contacts 59.

As shown in Fig. 54, the shaft 43 driven through clutch 42 extends to the top of the machine and terminates within the gear box 56. The gear 51, at the end of the shaft 43, meshes with gear 58 which drives the gear 59 secured to the upper end of the shaft 60 to the lower end of which is secured the holder Bi for feed auger Bio. The gear 62 movable in unison with the gear 58 drives the gear 63 secured to the upper end of the hollow shaft 64 to the lower end of which is secured the agitating member 55 disposed above the auger for the purpose of insuring free flow of the material by preventing it from packing.

When a predetermined weight of material is transferred to the carton B, the solenoid 66 is energized, as hereinafter more fully described, to trip the latch 55 so that the spring 61 effects disengagement of the clutch 42, and pulls the bar 24 downwardly to restore the engagement between the roller 23 and cam 22, which, in the meantime, has returned to the position shown in Fig. 3, to return the plate 33 to the position blocking the discharge from the spout 34 and to remove plate 31. The opening of the clutch stops the agitator and auger, and the removal of plate 31 permits material to flow from the hopper 38 into the spout, now closed by plate 33, to fill the space between the paths of movement of the two plates 33 and 31. The counterclockwise movement of the lever 4| also breaks the solenoid circuit by withdrawing the bridging contact member 68 from between the contacts 69.

The latch 52 and the abutment 52A are so disposed and arranged that when the member 54 is released by energization of the solenoid, the latch 52, in its downward movement, rocks and slides out of engagement with the abutment immediately, due to the torsion spring I0, returns the member 54 to the position shown, so that when the solenoid is deenergized, the parts again assume the position shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the carton B is positioned below the discharge spout of the hopper 36 upon the plate 1| supported by the rod 12 which passes through the table 13 of the machine upwardly from the cross member 14 positioned between the end of the scale arms 15 pivoted at 16 to the supporting bracket 11. Between the other ends of the arm 15 is positioned the cross member 11 which carries the weight-pan 18 of the scales. The bar 19 extending downwardly from the cross member ll carries the counterweight 80.

Except when the material is being fed by the auger at slow rate through the opening 40 in the upper plate 31, the scale is held locked against movement by the arm Bl which is biased by spring 82 to clamp the pin 83 adjustably secured to the rod 15 against the adjustable stop 84.

The cam 85 on the one-turn shaft 6a during its rotation releases link 86 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is connected to the arm 81 secured to the shaft 88 to which the scale-locking lever BI is fastened, so that substantially concurrently with initiation of the slow feed of the material, the scale is unlocked. When the scale balances, the switch 89 is operated to energize the solenoid circuit, as above described. Thereupon the members of clutch 42 are separated and the solenoid circuit interrupted by separation of contacts 88, 89, 89 as above described.

Briefly, when the operator depresses pedal l9 to initiate the cycle, the plate 33 swings away from the bottom of spout 35 to allow the accumulated material to drop into the carton B. As indicated, the nose 34 of the spout and the distance between plates 33 and 31 along the spout are adjustable, so that this amount, which will unavoidably vary to some extent, falls in bulk and is not separately weighed, but is adjusted to be somewhat less than the desired weight; if too small, the time required for the slow or dribble feed is necessarily long, while, if it is made to be too near the exact weight, it is possible that sometimes more than the proper amount will be discharged. Under practical op-- erating conditions, it is a simple matter to adjust the effective length of the spout between plates 33 and 31 to obtain rapid filling, as about 30 cartons per minute, with very high accuracy of weighing. The volume of the spout between plates 33 and 31 can be varied in other ways; for example, to obtain different bulk feeds, nose sections of different shape or size may be used. The arrangement disclosed is satisfactory as affording a simple and convenient means for varying the bulk discharge.

Concurrently with beginning of the auger or slow feed, the scale is unlocked so that, when the scale is balanced, the plate 33 swings in instantaneously to cut off further flow. The filled carton is removed by the operator, and replaced by another. filled ready for the next tripping of the pedal. No matter how long the time between successive operations, the amount discharging upon opening of plate 33 cannot be excessive, as plate 31 concurrently swings in to segregate the material in the spout from the remainder.

In the system shown in Figs. 5 and 6, four filling units, essentially as described, are utilized with conveyors and transfer mechanism to provide full automatic operation. The endless conveyor C feeds empty cartons B to a position between units No. 1 and No. 2. When the trigger or feeler BI] is engaged by the leading carton, it operates latch SI of the one-turn clutch 92, which is similar in construction to the clutch comprising elements 5 and ii of Fig. 2, to effect one revolution of shaft 93. The driving element 94 of the clutch is driven from the continuously operating shaft l2 of the double unit. The shaft 95 is coupled to shaft 93 as by sprockets 96, 91 and chain 98 to rotate one-half a revolution for each revolution of shaft 93.

The cam 99 on shaft 95 is provided with a groove I00 which swings an arm carrying the transfer bar ill! from the full-line position to During the interval, the spout has the dotted line position of Fig. 5, pushing 03 the scale plate Ila of unit No. 1 onto conveyor CI, one filled carton and one empty carton, and pushing two empty cartons onto plate Ila from conveyor 0. The arrangement for operating bar IOI from cam 98 is similar to that disclosed for operating bars IOIA and NIH from cam 99A.

During the half-revolution of shaft 95, the high point of cam I02 operates bar 20A, having the same function as link 20 shown in Fig. 2 of the single unit, to trip unit No. 2 to fill one of the cartons previously transferred to its scale plate Ho. The filling and weighing is effectedv automatically as described in connection with the single unit.

When the next carton on conveyor C actuates the trigger 90, shaft 95 makes another half revolution. Cam 99 thereon restores transfer arm I0I to the full line position of Fig. 5 and in doing so pushes ofi' plate Ila of unit No. 2 onto conveyor C2, one empty carton and the carton just filled, and pushes from conveyor C onto the plate two more empty cartons. Another cam, similar to I02, trips unit No. 1 to effect a weighing and filling operation.

Briefly, the cartons on conveyor C are fed in groups of two, alternately, to units Nos. 1 and 2, and are delivered from each unit in groups of two, one filled to exact weight and the other empty, to conveyors CI and C2. By changing the positions or dimensions of bar IM and trigger 90, it is, of course, possible to feed only one carton for each reciprocation of bar IOI in which event all cartons delivered to conveyors CI, C2 are filled.

In the system specifically shown, however, the cartons are fed in groups of two by conveyor CI and C2 adjacent to the units Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.

When a carton on conveyor CI engages the trigger A, it releases latch BIA to allow engagement of the members of clutch 94A to effect one revolution of shaft 93A, and one-half revolution of shaft 95A driven thereby through sprockets 96A, 91A and chain 98A. The cam 99A provided with a groove I00 swings the arms I03 which support the transfer member IOIB so that the two filled cartons on the scale plate of unit No. 3 are pushed onto conveyor C3 by the two cartons being pushed from conveyor CI onto the scale plate, one of which is filled, and the other of which is empty, and moved below the filling spout of unit No. 3. As shown, the cam follower I I0 which engages the groove of cam 90A is carried by bar III pivotally carried by the arms I I2, I I2 secured to the lower ends of shafts H2, H3 to which the arms I03, I03 are secured.

For the same half revolution of shaft 95A, the cam I02A trips unit No. 4 for filling of the empty one of the two cartons on its scale plate TIA The swinging of arms I03 also moves the stop member I05A out of the path of cartons on the conveyor C2 so that shortly after unit No. 4 completes its cycle, cartons on conveyor C2 engage the trigger 903 to effect another half revolution of control shaft 95A during which cam 99A operates bar IOIA to pushthe two filled cartons from plate Ila of unit No. 4 onto conveyor C3 and to push two more cartons from conveyor C2 onto the scale plate of unit No. 4, and moves stop I 053 to permit movement of cartons on conveyor CI toward trigger 90A. During the same half revolution of shaft 95A, the cam I02B effects tripping of unit No. 3 for its cycle of weighing and filling.

Therefore, for each tripping of latch IIIA, two filled cartons are delivered to conveyor C3, and two cartons, one to be filled, are delivered either from conveyor CI or C2 to its associated filling unit.

When the units are thus ganged for multiple operation, they should be adjusted so that the weighing operation of each is completed within time of one revolution of its clutch I5, whereas, this is not essential when a single unit is used.

It is to be understood that my invention is not hmited to the apparatus specifically illustrated, but is coextensive with the appended claims.

The weighing and filling unit, per se, is described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 723,687, filed May 3, 1934.

What I claim is:

l. A filling system comprising two filling units each having a one-turn clutch, and means for automatically delivering empty containers to said units alternately, and substantially concurrently with delivery to one unit effecting tripping of the clutch of the other unit.

2. A filling system comprising two filling units, mechanism for operating each of said units independently of the other of said units, conveyor structure for transporting empty containers adjacent said units, transfer structure, and means actuated by containers transported by said conveyor structure to effect delivery of containers by said transfer structure alternately to said units for successive actuations and controlling said mechanism to effect operation of said units alternately for successive actuations.

3. A filling system comprising two filling units, each having a one-turn clutch, conveyor struc ture for transporting empty containers adjacent said units, transfer structure, and tripping means actuated by containers transported by said conveyor structure tripping said clutches alternately for successive actuations by the containers and controlling said transfer structure to eifect delivery of containers alternately to said units.

4. A filling system comprising two filling units, each having a one-turn clutch, conveyor structure for transporting empty containers adjacent said units, transfer structure, and tripping means actuated by containers to effect for alternate actuations delivery of empty containers by said transfer structure to one unit for filling and to effect tripping of the clutch of the other unit for filling of an empty container previously delivered thereto for the intermediate operation of said transfer structure.

5. A filling system comprising two filling units, conveyor structure for transporting empty containers adjacent said units, transfer structure movable in one direction to transfer an empty container from said conveyor structure to one of said units for filling and movable in reverse direction to transfer an empty container from said conveyor structure to the other of said units for filling, tripping means actuated by containers on said conveyor structure effecting movement of said transfer structure in opposite directions for successive actuations by the containers, and means controlled by said tripping means to initiate operation of said units alternately, each as said transfer structure moves to deliver a container to the other unit.

6. A filling system comprising two filling units, mechanism for operating each of said units independently of the other of said units, a conveyor structure, and means for automatically transferring a container filled by one unit to said conveyor structure and controlling said mechanism to initiate operation only of the other unit.

7. A filling system comprising two filling units, conveyor structure for transporting empty containers adjacent to said units, conveyor structure for transporting containers filled by said units, intermittently operated means for transferring an empty container from said units for filling and simultaneously transferring a container previously filled by said unit to said second conveyor structure, said transfer means cooperating with sald units alternately, and filling means for receiving and filling empty containers from said second conveyor structure.

8. A filling system comprising two filling units, conveyor structure for transporting empty containers adjacent to said units, conveyor structure for transporting containers filled by said units, intermittently operated means for transferring an empty container from said units for filling and simultaneously transferring a container previously filled thereby to said second conveyor structure, and for initiating operation of the other of said units to fill a container previously delivered thereto by said intermittently operated means. and two filling units for receiving containers from said second conveyor structure and operating alternately to fill containers not filled by said first two filling units.

9. A filling system comprising a plurality of filling machines, means'for transferring containers, in pairs, alternately to each of two of said machines for filling of a container of each pair, means for conveying the filled and unfilled containers from said filling machines to a position adjacent two other filling machines, and means for transferring the conveyed containers in pairs alternately to said last named filling machines for filling of containers not filled by said first named filling machines.

10. A filling system comprising a plurality of filling machines, means for transferring containers, in groups, alternately to each of two of said machines for filling of less than all containers of each group, means for conveying the filled and unfilled containers from said filling machines to a position adjacent two other filling machines, and means for transferring the conveyed containers in groups alternately to said last-named filling machines for filling of containers not filled by said first-named filling machines.

ll. A filling system comprising a filling machine, means for transferring containers, in groups, to said filling machine for filling of less than all containers of each group, a second filling machine, and means for transferring the filled and unfilled containers, in groups, to said second filling machine for filling of containers not filled by said first-named filling machine.

12. A filling and weighing system comprising a weighing and filling machine, meansfor transferring containers, in groups, to the scale platform of said weighing and filling machine for filling one container until the scale is balanced, a second filling machine having a scale platform, and means for transporting the filled and unfilled containers of each group to the scale platform of said second filling machine for filling of an unfilled container of the group until the second scale is balanced.

13. The method of filling containers which comprises transferring containers, in groups, to a filling station, filling less than all containers of a group at said station, transporting the filled and unfilled containers, in groups, to a second filling station, and at said second filling station fillingthe containers not filled at said first filling station.

14. The method of filling containers which comprises transferring containers, in groups, alternately to each of two filling stations, at said stations alternately filling less than all of the containers of the group transferred thereto, transporting the filled and unfilled containers, in groups, to each of two additional filling stations, and at said last-named stations alternately filling the containers not filled at said firstnamed filling stations.

15. A filling system comprising two filling units, mechanism for operating each of said units independently of the other, conveyor struc ture for transporting empty containers, transfer structure movable in one direction to transfer an empty container from said conveyor structure to one of said filling units and to remove a container filled by one of said units and movable in reverse direction to transfer an empty container from said conveyor structure to the other of said filling units and to remove a container filled by said other of said units, and responsive means actuated by containers transported by said conveyor structure alternately to eflect movement of said transfer structure in opposite directions and controlling said mechanism to effect alternate operation of said filling units for successive actuations of said responsive means.

16. A filling system comprising two filling units, conveyor structure for transporting empty containers, transfer structure movable in one direction to transfer an empty container from said conveyor structure to one of said units and concurrently to remove a container filled by said one of said units and movable in reverse direction to transfer an empty container from said conveyor structure to the other of said units and concurrently to remove a container filled by said other unit, tripping means actuated by containers on said conveyor structure to effect movement of said transfer structure alternately in opposite directions for successive actuations by the containers, and means controlled by said tripping means to initiate operation of said units alternately; each as said conveyor structure moves to deliver an empty container to and remove a filled container from the other unit.

17. A filling system comprising a filling machine for filling less than all of a group of empty containers delivered thereto, a conveyor for transporting empty containers, transfer structure, means actuated by containers transported by said conveyor to effect operation of said transfer structure to deliver a group of empty containers to said filling machine, a second filling machine, a second conveyor for transporting groups of filled and unfilled containers from said first filling machine, a second transfer structure, and means actuated by containers on said second conveyor to effect operation of said second transfer structure to deliver a group of said filled and unfilled containers to said second filling machine.

18. A filling system comprising a filling machine for filling less than all of a group of empty containers delivered thereto, a conveyor for transporting empty containers, transfer structure, means actuated by containers transported by said conveyor to effect operation of said actuated by containers on said second conveyor to effect operation of said second transfer structure to deliver a group of said filled and unfilled containers to said second filling machine and to remove a group of filled containers from 5 said second machine.

. EDGAR W. BLEAM. 

